Rune Factory has forged its own identity in the world of cozy games. The series combines farming simulation with classic action RPG elements. Its unique blend includes monster taming, dungeon exploration, social relationships, and cultivation.
With Rune Factory 5 on Nintendo Switch, the franchise returned completely in 3D, albeit with a lukewarm reception. However, the recent release of Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma (June 5, 2025) has demonstrated that Marvelous Inc. learned from past mistakes, offering what many consider the best entry in the series so far.
The evolution of a hybrid genre
Rune Factory was born as a spin-off of Harvest Moon. It takes the basic farming formula and adds monster battles, dungeons, and magical crafting.
In Rune Factory 5, players awaken with amnesia, a series classic. Soon they join SEED, a peacekeeping group in the picturesque town of Rigbarth. The game blends town life, farming, monster taming, and RPG-style combat.
This entry made the complete jump to 3D environments, offering new camera controls and greater exploration freedom. This change allowed for more dynamic battles and more elaborate dungeons, although some fans missed the traditional top-down view, especially for farming tasks.
The renaissance: Guardians of Azuma
Guardians of Azuma represents a significant evolutionary leap for the series. Set in the eastern country of Azuma, this new title fully embraces traditional Japanese culture, from festivals to character and monster designs.
Revolutionary innovations
- Village construction system: It’s no longer just about tending your farm. As an Earth Dancer, you must rebuild entire villages devastated by the Celestial Collapse. You can build and place buildings, attracting people to return and contribute to four seasonal themed villages.
- Renewed combat mechanics: The combat system is heavily inspired by Genshin Impact, with similar controls but without a stamina meter. As an Earth Dancer, you use the power of dance, sacred treasures, and completely new weapons like the Bow and Talisman.
- Modernized progression system: Guardians of Azuma abandons traditional separate levels in favor of skill trees where you can invest your experience, offering greater flexibility in character development.
Critical reception: A resounding success
The difference in reception between both games is notable:
Rune Factory 5 received mixed reviews for its visual appearance and some technical issues, although it kept fans hooked with its addictive systems.
Guardians of Azuma, on the contrary, has been universally acclaimed:
- RPGFan: 94/100, calling it “by far the best Rune Factory game so far”
- Nintendo Life: 9/10, praising that it “manages to reinvent itself while maintaining the bones that make the Rune Factory series feel like itself”
- Steam: “Very Positive” reviews with 86% approval among 1,145 reviews
Inclusive romance and expanded content
Both games have advanced significantly in terms of inclusivity. Rune Factory 5 introduced same-sex marriage for the first time in the series.
For its part, Guardians of Azuma takes this further with 15 romance options, many of which are literally gods, all available regardless of the chosen protagonist’s gender.
Technical performance: The evolution continues
While Rune Factory 5 had some technical stumbles on Switch, Guardians of Azuma runs smoothly, especially on Nintendo Switch 2. Although it maintains a graphic style similar to Genshin Impact with lower resolution, loading times are short and the frame rate is high.
The game will be available in both physical and digital formats, with Spanish subtitles and a special Earth Dancer Edition that includes an art book, soundtrack CD, and Woolby plush keychain.
Why fans keep coming back
The strength of the Rune Factory series remains its gameplay freedom. You can focus on growing giant turnips, improving your equipment, courting your favorite villagers, or now, rebuilding entire civilizations. Guardians of Azuma amplifies this freedom without sacrificing the essence that makes the series special.
One of the game’s strong points is that it doesn’t require mastering every system. You can delve deep into item crafting or ignore it completely. There’s always something to do, and the game rewards your particular style.
The bright future of Rune Factory
With the resounding success of Guardians of Azuma, it seems that Marvelous Inc. finally found the perfect formula. The game successfully combines Rune Factory nostalgia with fresh innovations and improved visual presentation.
No more waiting with uncertainty: Guardians of Azuma has proven that the series not only has a future, but that future is brighter than ever. For longtime fans and newcomers alike, this new chapter marks the beginning of a new golden age for Rune Factory.
Rigbarth was just the beginning; Azuma is the destination.
